Statement by Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager, Environmental Defence

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – A new report from InfluenceMap confirms the impact of oil and gas lobbying efforts which Environmental Defence has been tracking: that Canada’s six largest oil and gas companies, along with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), have been a major obstacle to Canada achieving its climate goals.

Despite publicly claiming support for climate action, the oil and gas companies along with CAPP have consistently pushed for the expansion of the fossil fuel industry, in direct opposition to the International Energy Agency’s call for a rapid phase out of fossil fuels.

Not surprisingly, these companies and CAPP are adamantly against the proposed oil and gas emissions cap that is projected to be implemented by the end of this year. The oil and gas sector’s emissions are the largest and the fastest growing source of climate pollution in Canada – having increased by nearly 20 per cent since 2005. Without a strong and ambitious emissions cap, Canada has no chance of limiting its pollution and doing its part to keep global average temperatures below 1.5 C.

If it were left up to oil and gas companies, they would be allowed to operate without accountability and continue polluting at the expense of all of our futures. Their public net-zero commitments are nothing but a weak attempt at greenwashing their destructive operations. As the InfluenceMap report shows, behind the scenes they are working hard to advocate against much needed emissions reducing regulations, such as the oil and gas emissions cap, while pushing for more production despite the consequences for the climate.

Environmental Defence’s latest monthly roundup of Canada’s oil and gas industry lobbying the federal government is here.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca